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PM Modi inaugurates the Kollam bypass in Kerala

Published By : Admin | January 15, 2019 | 16:55 IST
Infrastructure development has been the priority of our Government and the Kollam bypass is an example: PM Modi
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The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi visited Kollam in Kerala today. He dedicated the 13 km, 2-lane Kollam bypass on NH-66 to the nation. The Governor of Kerala Shri Justice P. Sathasivam, CM of Kerala Shri PinarayiVijayan, Union Minister of Tourism Shri K J Alphons along with other dignitaries were present on this occasion.

Addressing a gathering at the Asramam ground in Kollam, Prime Minister Modisaid that infrastructure development has been the priority of his Government and the Kollam bypass is an example.

He underlined the fact that the project got final sanction in January 2015 and now it has seen the light of the day. The Prime Minister told that his Government believes in sabkasaath, sabkavikas for ease of living to the common man and appreciated the contribution and co-operation of Kerala government in completion of the project.

Kollam Bypass will reduce ravel time between Alappuzha and Thiruvananthapuram and decongest the traffic in Kollam town.

Talking about the projects in Kerala, the PM said that about 500 km of national highway has been added in Keralasince May 2014. He added that under Bharatmala, a detailed project report for the Mumbai-Kanyakumari corridor is under preparation. .

The Prime Minister said that the government is committed to ensure timely completion of all the projects.  He said that through PRAGATI,more than 250 projects worth Rs.12 lakh crores have been reviewed at his end.

Highlighting the progress in road connectivity, the PM Modi said that compared to the previous Government, the pace of construction in national highways, rural roads has almost doubled. More than 90% of rural habitations have been connected today compared to only 56% in the previous government.  He expressed hope that the government will reach the target of 100% rural road connectivity soon. Regional air connectivity and expansion of railway lines have shown marked improvement resulting in creation of job opportunities.The Prime Minister said, “When we construct roads and bridges, we do not only connect towns and villages. We also connect aspirations with achievements, optimism with opportunities and hope with happiness.”

About Ayushman Bharat, he said that 8 lakh patients have been benefitted under this scheme while the government has sanctioned more than 1100 crores rupees till date for the scheme. He urged the Government of Kerala to expedite the implementation of Ayushman Bharat scheme, so that the people of Kerala can be benefitted.

 The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi said that tourism is the hallmark of Kerala’s economic development and a principal contributor to the State’s economy. He added that recognizing the tourism potential of Kerala, the government has sanctioned 7 projects in the State under the SwadeshDarshan and PRASAD schemes with funds worth Rs. 550 crore.

Speaking on the importance of Tourism Sector, PM highlighted the remarkable growth in this sector. India posted a growth of 14% over 2016 in the tourism sector while the world grew at an average of 7%. He added that India now stands at 3rd place in Power Ranking in the 2018 report of the World Travel & Tourism Council. Foreign tourist arrivals in India increased by 42% from around 70 lakh in 2013 to about 1 crore in 2017. While the Foreign exchange earned by India due to tourism witnessed a jump of 50%, up from $ 18 billionin 2013 to $ 27 billion in 2017. He described the introduction of the e-Visa as a game changer for Indian Tourism which is now available to nationals of 166 countries.

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Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addresses the Wings India 2026 programme in Hyderabad via video conferencing
January 28, 2026
Over the past decade, India’s aviation sector has undergone a historic transformation, evolving from an exclusive club into the world’s third-largest domestic aviation market: PM
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Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addressed a gathering during the Wings India 2026 programme at Hyderabad in Telangana via video conferencing today. Speaking on the occasion, Prime Minister welcomed industry leaders, experts, and investors, noting that the next era of the aviation industry is full of aspirations and India is emerging as a major player. He highlighted the vast opportunities India presents in aircraft manufacturing, pilot training, advanced air mobility, and aircraft leasing, stressing the importance of the Wings India summit for all stakeholders.

Shri Modi remarked that over the past decade, India’s aviation sector has undergone a historic transformation, recalling that air travel was once limited to an exclusive club but today India has become the world’s third-largest domestic aviation market. He pointed out that passenger traffic has grown rapidly and Indian airlines are expanding their fleets, with more than 1,500 aircraft ordered in recent years.

The Prime Minister underlined that this growth has been possible due to the government’s long-term vision, making air travel inclusive rather than exclusive, with the mission of enabling every citizen to travel easily by air. He emphasized that Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities have been connected with airports, noting that in 2014 India had 70 airports, while today the number has risen to more than 160, meaning the country has built over twice as many airports in just a decade. Shri Modi added that over 100 aerodromes have been activated and, alongside this, the government launched the UDAN scheme to provide affordable fares. He stated that as a result of UDAN, 15 million passengers—around one and a half crore—have traveled on routes, many of which did not even exist earlier.

Prime Minister Modi remarked that as India advances towards the goal of becoming a developed nation, the expansion of air connectivity is certain to multiply many times over. He highlighted that by 2047, India is expected to have more than 400 airports, creating a vast network. Shri Modi noted that the government is working on the next phase of the UDAN scheme, which will further strengthen regional and affordable air connectivity, alongside the expansion of sea-plane operations, with the aim of improving connectivity across every corner of the country.

Emphasising that the government is also focusing strongly on developing the tourism sector, Shri Modi said tourist destinations are being upgraded nationwide, and air travel becoming the preferred choice for large numbers of people. The Prime Minister underlined that demand for air travel will see unprecedented growth in the coming years, creating greater opportunities for investment.

PM stated that as India emerges as a major global aviation hub, it is essential to reduce dependence on others for aviation needs and strengthen the path of self-reliance, which will also benefit companies investing in India. Shri Modi highlighted that India is placing strong emphasis on aircraft design, manufacturing, and the aircraft MRO ecosystem. He stressed that India is already a major manufacturer and supplier of aircraft parts. The Prime Minister added that India has begun producing military and transport aircraft domestically and is moving forward in civil aircraft manufacturing as well. He pointed out India’s advantages, including its geographic position in global air corridors, unmatched domestic feeder network, and the future expansion of long-haul fleets, which together form a great strength.

The Prime Minister remarked that the day is not far when electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft designed and manufactured in India will give a new direction to the aviation sector, significantly reducing travel time. He further noted that India is working extensively on sustainable aviation fuel and is poised to become a major producer and exporter of green aviation fuel in the coming years.

Emphasising that India is undertaking numerous reforms in the aviation sector, Shri Modi remarked that as a result, the country is emerging as a major aviation gateway between the Global South and the world. He highlighted that this presents significant opportunities for investors and manufacturers connected with the aviation industry.

Shri Modi noted that India is connecting different regions and markets, with cities being linked to ports through multiple modes of transport. He emphasized that India’s aviation vision is equally focused on air cargo, and the government is working on all necessary regulatory reforms to make cargo movement faster and more efficient. He underlined that digital cargo platforms are simplifying and making the entire process more transparent, while off-airport processing arrangements are reducing the load on airports. The Prime Minister added that modern warehouses are being built to improve and accelerate cargo handling, which will reduce both delivery time and logistics costs in the future. Underlining that India is set to emerge as a major and competitive trans-shipment hub, Shri Modi urged investors to explore opportunities in warehousing, freight forwarding, express logistics, and e-commerce sectors.

Prime Minister remarked that only a few countries in the world today possess such a large scale, policy stability, and technological ambition for the aviation industry as India does. He called upon every nation, every industry leader, and every innovator to take full advantage of this golden opportunity. Shri Modi urged them to become long-term partners in India’s development journey and contribute to the growth of the global aviation sector. He concluded by inviting investors worldwide to join India’s flight as co-pilots and extended his best wishes for the successful organization of Wings India.